Thermal Camera Under $2,000?

Author: Ethan Ace, Published on Jun 05, 2012

While Axis and FLIR have loudly proclaimed steep drops in thermal network camera pricing, their cameras are still at least $3,000 and most are far more expensive. Now, a newer entrant to the security market, DRS Technologies, has radically slashed pricing, offering similar cameras for less than $2,000. In this note, we examine who this company is, whether they are for real and what catches or limitations you may face.

***** **** *** **** **** ****** ********** ***** ***** ** thermal ******* ****** *******, ***** ******* *** ***** ** ***** $3,000 *** **** *** *** **** *********. ***, * ***** entrant ** *** ******** ******,*** ************, *** ********* ******* *******, ******** ******* ******* *** **** than $*,***. ** **** ****, ** ******* *** **** ******* is,******* **** *** *** **** *** **** ******* ** *********** you *** ****.

[***************]

[******: ****** ******* **** *******.]

********

**** ****, *** ******** * ******* ******* ****** **** ***************** ** ********** ********** ** **** ****.

*** *** $*,*** ******* ** *** **** ******** ****, **** no ********** ******* ** *** ******* ********.

*** *** **** ********* **** ** ***** ********* **** *** following ********* **:

1999

** *********** ******** ** *** *** *** **** ***** ****** so ******* ** ** ******** *******. *** **** **** ***** they ************ ***** *** **********, **** **** **** ***** ******* than*************** **** *** **** *********** *** ********* ** *****. *******, given *** ***** ** *** ****, ** ******* **** *** must **** ** ********* ***** ******* ** ***** ****** ***** growth.

Specs, *******, *** ************

*** *** ******** ** *** *********** ** ***** *******:

  • ******** ******* ******* ******, *.*** *** ***** ********* ** ** FPS, ** * *** *** ****** *******
  • **º, **º, *** *º *** *******
  • ***** *********
  • ***-*******, **** *********
  • ** ********* **-*****

** ** ********* ***, ******** ** $*,*** *** **** **** a **º ****. ***** *********** ********* (******* *********** ******** ****** discounts *** ******* **-**** *********), ****** ***** *** ** ******** lower. *** ***** ******* *********** ****, **** ** ****** ***** nor ************.

Potential **************

***** ***' ******* ***** ** ************, *** ********* ********** *******, users ****** ******** *** ********* ********* ***** ** *******:

  • *** ** * *******:*** ** *** ** *** ********** ******** *****, **** ******** about *-* ***** ***. *******, *** *** *********** ******* ** the ******* ******, ******* ** ****, ********* *** ****** ** the ********** ********'* ********** ****** ********.
  • *** ***** ***********:***** ** *** **** *********** ****** *********, ********* *********** *** *** ** * *******. *** **** **** *** ******* **** **** *** ********* to ******* ****** ************, ****** *** ***** **** ** ***** with **** ** *** *** ****** *** ********* *** **** preferred ***.
  • ********* *******:**** ******* ** ** ********** ******* **** *** *** *******. DRS ******* ***** **** ******* ** ********* * ****/** ***** per ****.
  • **** ****** ****:*** ***** ** **** **** ****** *** ******* ****** ** hours, *** ****** **** ***** *** ***** *** ****** ******.

Competitive **********

*** *********** ** ***** ** ************* **** ********* **** *** IP ******* ***********, **** ** **** *** ****. ***** $*,*** USD ** ** *********** ****** *****, ** ******** ** *******:

***** ***** ******, *** *********** ** **** **** **** *** price ** ***********.

** ***** *********:****** ****, *******, ***' ******* *** *** ******* ** ******* analytics **-*****, **** ****** *********. **** ** ** ********* ********** as ********* *** ***** *** **** ******* *******. ***** *** can ******* *********, ** ***** ** ** **** ** *** server ****, ********** **** *** **********.

Comparison ** ******* *******

******* ** *******, ** ************ ** ***** **** **** ******* light *******. ***** *** *** ******* ** **** ****:

  • *****-** **:*** ***** ****** ** ***** ******* **** *****-** ** ************. This ******** ********* ********** *** ***** ****** *** ***, ****** most ******* ******* ***** *** ******* ** *** * *** resolution *****-** ** ** ********* ******* ** **-**' ** ****, whereas ******* ******* ***** **** ********* ****** ** *** ******** of ****. ********** ** ******* *** ********* ****** **** ***** even *** ***********, *******, ******* *** $*,*** ** ****.
  • ****-***** ******** ***********:*** ****** ****** ** ***** * ****-***** ************, ***** *** reach ****** ***** ** *** ********* ****** ** ******* *******. However, ***** ************ ***** ***** **** *** **** $*,*** ****, and **** ** ********** ********* *** ********** **** *** ** camera. *******, ****-******* ** **** ****** ************ ** *** **** field, ****** ********* ************** *********.

** ****** ***** **** ** ** ** ****, ******* ******* have ** ********* ** *** ** ********* *******, ** ****, as **** *** ****** **** ** ****** ***** *******.

*******, ******* ******* ***** ****** ** **** ********** ******* ***** images, * ***** ******* *** **** *****. *** ***** ********** these ***** **** ******* ******* **** * ******** ********* ******* at * ****** ******** ** **** ** ******* **** ***********.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R) on Aug 18, 2017
Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR...
Axis Laser Focus PTZ Tested on Aug 14, 2017
Axis has been touting its new Q6155-E laser focus PTZ as 'always in focus' and 'always in color'. Does it really deliver? We bought and tested...
IP Camera Specification / RFP Guide 2017 on Aug 14, 2017
RFPs are hard. Do them 'right' and it takes a lot of knowledge and time. Do them 'wrong' and you can be (a) unwittingly locked into a specific...
ONVIF Releases Profile A for Access on Aug 08, 2017
ONVIF has struggled so far in access control. In 2014, ONVIF released Profile C for access control, but in the 3 years since, only 2 companies...
ADI 'In The Dark' About Low Light on Aug 07, 2017
ADI's recent post on 'How To See Better In the Dark' makes basic mistakes, promoting outdated technical claims. Missing: Super Low...
Dome Versus Turret Camera Usage Statistics 2017 on Aug 07, 2017
Turret cameras are a growing segment within video surveillance. Indeed, many integrators argued strongly for turrets in an IPVM...
Dahua 4K Turret Tested Vs Hikvision (N84BG44 ) on Aug 02, 2017
Dahua has released their latest low cost 4K model, the N84BG44, claiming Smart H.265+ and 50m IR range. We bought and tested this new model against...
FLIR Security Business Struggling on Aug 02, 2017
FLIR's security division is an ambitious mix of FLIR's core thermal business plus multiple acquisitions, including of retail / consumer offering...
Super Low Light Surveillance Guide on Aug 01, 2017
At the beginning of this decade, low light performance of megapixel cameras was generally terrible. This was the era of super slow shutter where...
IR Surveillance Guide on Jul 31, 2017
Infrared (IR) has become an increasing core component to video surveillance systems. In particular, the expansion of integrated IR cameras that...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Avigilon CEO Attacks Asian Companies Cyber Insecurity on Aug 18, 2017
Avigilon CEO is taking aim at their Asian competitors. And he is going directly after these company's cyber security issues. In this note, we...
Sony Next Gen HD Dome Camera Tested (SNC-EM642R) on Aug 18, 2017
Sony has released their latest generation, claiming improved WDR and low light, increased IR range, and more. We tested the SNC-EM642R outdoor IR...
IP Networking Course September 2017 on Aug 17, 2017
This is the only networking course designed specifically for video surveillance professionals plus it includes live training, personal help and...
Knightscope Raises $10 Million With $3,320 Average Per Investor on Aug 17, 2017
Congrats to Knightscope. And condolences to their legion of little investors. Knightscope has disclosed they have raised $10+ million from their...
Axis and Arecont Legal Conflict Over Multi-Imager Cameras on Aug 17, 2017
Arecont threatened Axis. Axis has responded by moving to invalidate an Arecont patent. It is an important contest. Multi-imagers are Arecont's...
Directory Of Consumer Security Cameras on Aug 16, 2017
The consumer camera segment continues to grow, with new startups and models from existing players released seemingly every month. In this report we...
Cat 5e vs Cat 6 vs Cat 6a Network Cable Usage Statistics on Aug 16, 2017
Cat 5e? Cat 6? Cat 6a? What do integrators use in practice, today? 140+ integrators told IPVM. Here are the results: For those who want to...
Hikvision Responds To Cracked Security Codes on Aug 15, 2017
Hikvision has responded to IPVM's report on Hikvision's security code being cracked, both with a 2 page update to dealers and communication...
Stolen Video NVR / DVR Statistics on Aug 15, 2017
"But what happens if someone steals my recorder?" Anyone who has done more than a handful of jobs has probably heard this question several times....
Hikvision Europe Cutting Out Unauthorized End User Sales on Aug 15, 2017
The days of anyone buying Hikvision from anywhere off the Internet are numbered, at least in Europe, if Hikvision's plan comes to fruition. In...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact